Have you ever wondered how to share Christ with others? Maybe you look at preachers or missionaries and think they are super charged almost hero-like Christians, who have been gifted with an amazing ability to talk to everyone about Christ. And yes, they may have been given gifts to help them along their journeys, but God calls us to share Christ with others too. And he has a really simple formula to follow so everyone can do it. Are you ready for this…just talk about it!
Sharing Christ with Others in Simple Ways
You see, there is no one phrase you need to say that will miraculously open someone’s heart to Christ. Our job as followers of Jesus is to spread the seeds and let God cultivate them. Sharing Christ with others can be done in simple ways:
1. Sharing what Jesus has done for us.
After Jesus healed the man with the legion of demons, a straightforward conversation between Jesus and the man was recorded in scripture.
“The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him. – Luke 8: 38-39 (emphasis added)
Yes, it really is that easy. Throughout our day we can just share what God has done for us. We can do it in such a way that it doesn’t seem awkward at all.
For example…
The other day while working, I was helping a lady, who was wearing a shirt that said relax. I simply said, “I hope you get a chance to relax today.” She gave a sad laugh and said, “I guess I will because I got laid off on Friday.”
I couldn’t help but take the next 45 seconds to share with her how God has taken care of our family while my husband has been without work.
She said, “Yes, you’re right. God was not at all surprised by this.”
“No, God wasn’t. And he won’t be surprised when you get the call for your next job because he already knows where it will be and when that call will come. Until then, he will faithfully take care of you.”, I replied.
With teary eyes, we both praised God and said good-bye.
2. Showing people by our actions and words how Christ has changed us.
When we have decided to follow Christ with all that we are, we allow Him to mold and change us. The fruit of the Spirit starts to become evident in our lives. People take notice and see the change. We often hear the phrase, actions speak louder than words. And in the case of being a Christian, this is very true. People will wait to see if our actions reflect our words.
Saul was blinded on the road to Damascus as he went to arrest those who were following Christ. He spent 3 days without sight, waiting, praying and fasting. Ananias, a faithful follower of Christ, was told by the Lord to go and place his hands on Saul so that Saul’s sight would be restored. Ananias knew the reports of Saul and why he was coming. Saul’s action proceeded him. Ananias even said to God,
“Lord, I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” – Acts 9:13-14
But God had other plans and Saul’s actions changed.
He planned on using Saul aka Paul to take the gospel message to the gentiles.
“Saul spent several day with the disciples in Damascus. At once, he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, ‘Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests? Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.” Acts 9:19-22 (emphasis added)
Saul’s actions changed and he brought many to Christ because of it. He went from trying to kill Jesus followers to becoming one himself and proving that Jesus is the Christ!
3. Standing courageously for Christ in the face of opposition.
I have been reading so much about the persecuted church lately. What has captured my attention the most really encompasses points #1 & #2 but on an extreme level. In the face of extreme difficulties, the words and actions of persecuted Christians are turning hearts to God. Many perpetrators and witnesses can’t help but see a love, peace, and strength that they have never seen before. In Iran, where evangelism was outlawed, Persian Bibles were banned and preachers were killed, the church has grown by leaps and bounds. According to The Gospel Coalition,
” Last year the mission research organization Operation World named Iran as having the fastest-growing evangelical church in the world. According to the same organization, the second-fastest growing church is in Afghanistan—and Afghanis are being reached in part by Iranians, since their languages are similar.”
Check out some of their amazing stories here. It’s just like what happened in the book of Acts. As persecution spread, so did the word of God and it spread by words and example!
Sharing with Friends vs Strangers
It sometimes feels easier to share how God is working in our lives with friends. But it’s also important to seize the opportunities that God presents us with throughout the day with strangers. I find that when I pray for opportunities, I am able to see them more often. Like when I talked to the lady wearing the “relax” shirt. The opportunity to share with her flowed easily into the conversation and so I took it. (We only interacted with each other for 5 minutes max and I haven’t seen her since. I do pray for her and hope to get the opportunity to encourage her again sometime. But the point is, not having an established relationship with her did not stop me from sharing Christ’s goodness with her.) When God presents these opportunities, we should excitedly take them.
However, there is another way to look at interacting with strangers too. The idea of turning a stranger into a friend or a regular acquaintance is brilliant. Kerry Holton has some great ideas on how to make new friends and how simple acts of kindness can impact people in a big way.
In the end, whether we are conversing with a friend or a stranger, the basic idea of letting our words be seasoned with salt always applies.
“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” – Paul, Colossians 4:6
So as you go through your day, take advantage of the opportunities to share what Christ has done for you!
We would love to hear and praise God along side of you. What has God done for you?
Listen to Nicole C. Mullen’s “Talk About It.” You will be energized and ready to share with everyone you come in contact with instead of staying quiet. Don’t be ashamed to share about our Lord and Savior!
I am a mother of 5 crazy, homeschooling children ages 10 & under, wife to an amazing man, and daughter of the King of the Universe!I enjoy reading, making my kids laugh, cooking, all things natural, learning to play guitar and dusting off my piano skills.One day I hope to run again, but until then I’m learning patience.
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Being willing to share the reason we have hope is part of what we’re commanded to do. Sometimes it is hard to know when people are willing to listen, but I believe when I’m loving someone my love for Jesus shines through.
Great encouragement to witness! We have opportunities every day to share His word with others!
Yes, we do!
Being what Christ would want us to be is huge. Our actions speak louder than our words so when we are loving those that are often forgotten or unlovable, then we are SHOWING more than we could ever say
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That is very true, Marie!
I think that we often make sharing our faith way to complicated. We think it has to be done in some formal elaborate way when really its all about just living our daily lives as we are called to do in his Word.
Yes, Elizabeth! That’s so true.
This is so powerful. You are right. Sometimes it’s just the one liner or one phrase that can really help others with knowing who Christ is.
Thank you, Caroline! The Holy Spirit will guide us, if we let him.
It is easier to share Christ with my actions, but i know we have to speak out sometimes. I really admire people who can talk to strangers about Jesus. I know God gifted us all differently. We just have to follow Him moment by moment and trust that He gives us the words and the people to talk to.
This is so necessary. My pastor was just preaching on yesterday how there are more non belivers than believers in the world. We’ve got to make it our mission to share the gospel every chance we get.